iav1917@ritcv.UUCP (04/29/87)
[.........................................................................] Well, Virginia, there really isn't a Santa Claus... Just a smiling, balding old man walking around in a red suit saying: "We Got You Now!"... We knew it was coming for a while so it's no big surprise. I just wish DEC would follow through on it's announcements and at least let the Rainbow die a dignified death. But, NO! They had to turn the screw on the thumbpegs further...no water on the dying lips...a slap in the face...and, then, "See ya! Hope you'll write!"... Following this is note a Rainbow/FIDO Echomail posting that I am putting on usenet for the purpose of information and for humor to those who always wanted to stick their two-cents worth in about the machine. Maybe, it's fair and just. It's something like a gallant knight who rather die in battle than just a simple knight who'll leave the battlefield, go home, sit in front of the fire with a tankard of ale and pine his life away....naaa, I am stretching it a tad bit... The Rainbow is still a viable machine despite and inspite of the support from DEC. There are NOW more computer journals and newsletters for the machine than before and you find nearly every piece of software or hardware you would ever need for the machine (albeit for a price). Disclaimer: The information in the following posting has not been verified fully but it represents, in writing, what I've been hearing for months. Even though it's coming out of the Nashville DECUS Symposium, it may or may not reflect the attitudes or desires of DECUS or Digital Equipment Corporation. Also, my comments may or may not reflect those of DECUS or DEC. I paid for my comments, I get to keep them! Alan ================================================= alan i. vymetalik uucp: {allegra,seismo}!rochester!ritcv!iav1917 ================================================= Prism Software Designs, 44 Arborwood Crescent Rochester, New York, 14615-3807, (716)-458-4932 ------------------------------------------------- Acting Chairman Rainbow Special Interest Forum Greater Rochester Area Local Users Group (GRALUG) A DECUS Group ================================================= transcription follows.... #115 6 27 Apr 87 21:35:37 From: Farley Flatco To: Bereaved Souls Subj: Death of a Rainbow (A Play in No Acts) DEC Confirms Rumors of No Pots of Gold at End of Rainbow . . . . . . . . By Farley Flatco (Charlie Matco's Country Nephew) Nashville, TN (PNS) -- Today Digital Equipment Corporation brought an end to the fiction that the Rainbow is a viable computer. Ron Gemma, Digital's Product Manager for the Rainbow (who as you are about to read is soon to be out of a job), announced that all ongoing product development for the Rainbow line has been terminated effective April 15. [Editor's note: terminated "with extreme prejudice" ??] Gemma cited problems with their suppliers of Ethernet hardware and numerous delays imposed by MicroSoft as contributing factors in their decision to scrap their PCSA Network Integration upgrade for the Rainbow line, but indicated that the real issue was the dramatic falloff in Rainbow orders since the introduction of the widely heralded VAXmate nyet-worked personal workstation. Also pointed out in the "de-announcement" was the obvious fact that Digital will continue to support the software and hardware already out there [Ed: at least until they run out of boards or people who know what a board looks like]. So those of you with bootleg copies of 3.1 should consider having the diskette bronzed. It's a collector's item. Oh, that reminds me, the reason stated for the failure to release 3.1 was "many applications that work under 2.11 broke under 3.1". Rumor has it that what we're talking about is WordStar. Hey, whoever you are out there, go run WordStar on an IMSAI. This Pirate has found no problems whatsoever with 3.1 that wouldn't be cured by a general release. In summary: o Rainbows will no longer be sold as of June 30. o All Rainbow orders will be filled by December 31. o The Ethernet/Mouse board, whatever that is, won't be produced. o MS-DOS 3.10 will not be released for the Rainbow. o MS-Windows will not be released for the Rainbow. o Ron Gemma is now looking for some other potential corpse to plunder. Finally, keep in mind the unofficial DEC slogan: "Digital has it now, you keep getting it in the end, User!" --- * Origin: Dealing from the bottom of the DEC (Opus 69/69) SEEN-BY: 69/69 101/27 101/367 102/110 109/483 115/100 116/8 141/491 SEEN-BY: 260/223 ....